Ask HN: What software do you use to make screencasts for you product?
What software do you use to make screencasts for your products? Are there any good tools on Windows or Mac that are available for free?
I use CamStudio. It's free, and easy to use. It doesnt have many bells or whistles, but I don't need it to. I get it to output a very high bitrate avi file. The real issue for me is how to then encode and stream the video. Here's what I tried, and where I'm at now:
1. Use the SWFProducer app that comes with CamStudio. It produces an SWF that is nice and small, but it doent not allow progressive streaming, which is a big no-no for me..
2. Use FFMpeg to convert the avi to an .flv file, and then use FlowPlayer to allow users to watch the video online. Works, but .flv isnt great quality for the file size.
3. Use FFMpeg to convert the avi to an H.264 .mp4 file. Then either use FlowPlayer to allow users to watch the video online, or post as an .mp4 and allow users watch it using QuickTime plug-in. It Works, but it doesn't allow progressive streaming, which is a big no-no again...
4. (What I'm using today). Use FFMPEG to convert the avi to an H.264 encoded .f4v file (the new flash video standard). Use FlowPlayer to allow the user to watch it online. Allows progressive streaming and is decent quality.
5. (What I want to get to one day..) Encode using a codec designed specifically for screen-casting. I tried the 'Flash Screen Video' codec in FFMPEG and it produced a very nice quality file, but the size was ~2.5x the .f4v file, so I decided not to go with it. I'm hoping there is a better codec out there somewhere...
Using (4) my video is: 650x620 pixels 24 fps ~700 kbps (includes a 320x240 video - so a screen casting codec may not do the trick anyway - maybe I need a hybrid?)
Looking forward to learning about what others are doing.
I had this problems of converting my screencasts sometime ago Most tools I found were either trial or were putting a big moronic "limited version" text in the center of the screen apart from limiting but found a good and free converter called "Super" (it's for Windows and uses ffmpeg).
Download super here: http://www.erightsoft.com/S6Kg1.html
Just browse and move to the bottom of that page and find the text "Download SUPER". That page should also serve as a guide to how to use Super although you'll figure it out yourself.
The direct download link: http://www.erightsoft.info/GetFile.php?SUPERsetup.exe
But there seems to be bug with converting .rm files. The last time I tried an rm file it popped errors.
P.S-- Their dirty website design might give you an impression that the software is really dumb. But actually it's really cool and powerful with a nice pretty good UI and plenty of options (it uses ffmpeg in the background). I waded thru the pages to give the exact download link.
It's easy and produces small, high-quality output files in just about any format you desire.
I plan on trying some of the ones mentioned here, though. Anyone know of a good one for Ubuntu?
In fact, I'd even put it in the top 3 best apps I bought last year.
edit: What about video sharing services, which ones are good at rendering text? I know that youtube does a poor job, but what other services are better?
I decided that I didn't want the hassle of not knowing how a 3rd party video streaming service (e.g. YouTube) might alter the quality. So I use FlowPlayer (an OS flash video player) and hosted the video file (.f4v) and the flash .swf on my webserver. It works fine, so long as you have BW..
Not sure why the other Windows Media Encoder user got downmodded. Perhaps it would be more useful to explain why you think your approach is better (other than your hate of Bill Gates)?
But sounds ridiculous to me. TechSmith also has Camtasia Studio which is a paid software that does the same job.
its a freemium, but i have yet to need the -mium.
It's part of Mac OS X client, and connects with Podcast Producer running on Mac OS X Server.
Which means it's either free or (if you don't have a Mac OS X Server box around) it's not free.